Get another look at our Easter Service Dance Video "Happy Day" showing kids young and old celebrating the joy of resurrection Sunday! Enjoy!
Seeing the Other | Back Pain (and Our Brains)
This title is a play on words, but appropriate here. Circumstantial change is a constant in our lives, but at least for me, growth in the Lord frequently seems hard, stuttered, and full of re-learning (sigh, another lap around the mountain, Lord). We encounter pain – emotional pain that produces behavior so ingrained, that like backyard blackberries, it’s so hard to eradicate - even over a lifetime. It’s past pain that affects our present.
Recently I came across a science special on PBS that dealt with memory. They said that brain scientists are expanding their traditional idea of our brains simply being a library full of memories. We go in, walk down an aisle, open up a book and remember.
Now they understand it’s not just our memories, but MEMORY in general. It’s EVERYTHING we have ever encountered through any of our senses, and the resulting feelings felt and thoughts thought. It’s the vast and complex sum total of it all – the behaviors learned that affect us today. Regardless if we can’t recall the origins (we know that trauma victims can absolutely block out memories).
Also beyond the library analogy, our brains are in a continual state of organic flux - constantly growing new cells, neurons and pathways today, as we access and merge both past memories and new information (age and non-use can also diminish the brain’s physiology, as us old guys can attest).
Yes, behavioral change can be so hard for us. It’s not like we’re erasing a memory from a hard drive and simply replacing it with something else. Old memories and behaviors die hard because they are learned, practiced, and ingrained with our present-day encounters. We literally have to relearn HOW to change. And we have to be truly convinced that our new way will be a less painful route to take.
I just LOVED the recent comments by Britni D’Eliso on shame (versus guilt). Shame is so much more dangerous because beyond behavior, it’s identity based – more intricately woven into the fabric of who we perceive we are (or who we are LIED to and led to believe we are). It’s “You Are” versus “You Did”.
We are all so much social creatures, and relationships are where we encounter most of our pain – with the resulting cues on how to act in self-defense. It seems to me that if we are to truly change our destructive behaviors and re-map our brains, it will only come as we participate, with kindness and compassion, in an emotional environment where we feel secure and safe.
And I am not just thinking about the church body here, but everyone else we touch “out there”. To me, compassion to everyone I don’t understand, like or agree with is an essential skill because it allows me to extend grace to first myself, then others when I encounter my pain.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (The Message)
“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone, a new life burgeons! Look at it!”
About the Author
Terry Sheldon is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.
He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.
Seeing the Other | When Your Blinders Get Ripped Off in a Gas Station
The gas station is just a half mile from our house on Island Rd. Of all the modest looking Shells out there, with dirt and exhaust visibly creeping up the sun-bleached yellow signage, this one is perhaps the most forgotten by its corporate overlords. Still, the dingy fueling station sits against a backdrop of pristine forest and glowing blue mountains: a vision of natural beauty that makes even the locally despised Dollar General next door seem almost pleasant.
It was late afternoon when I left my car filling up at pump number two and slipped inside the minimart to collect a bottle of Wildcraft cider for a dinner party later that evening (a posh beverage that they inexplicably carry, defying both the absurd remoteness of our location and the dingy obscurity of this tiny gas station store.)
There I am with my snooty cider in line, but no one in front of me is going anywhere. It seems the girl at the front of the line is chatting with a middle aged woman behind the cash register. The cashier has glasses and stringy, damp-looking curls. Her long nails are cheerfully bedazzled, making tiny clacking sounds as she lifts items off the counter. Some gum, a Snapple. Several brightly packaged Airheads. I squirm in my spot in line, impatient to get back out to my car. I can hear the cashier talking to the young woman checking out.
“Is the radiator fixed yet?” The cashier looks up over her glasses at the young woman. The girl sheepishly leans to one side, fidgeting with her long dark hair that’s piled on her head in a messy bun.
“They said it would be ready later this week.”
“Did you really have to walk all the way from Callahan?” The cashier glances at the young woman with eyebrows raised, an expression that makes me think they must be related biologically, or at least socially. “Did you talk to your dad while you were out there?”
“Yeah,” the young woman replies. “I cussed him out the whole way for not helping me. I had to walk halfway back to Etna before someone picked me up.”
Their conversation drags on about the car repair and I suddenly have to pee. Social hour at the gas station is wearing my nerves thin, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll have time to whip up a side dish before my dinner party. I imagine the girl in front of me trudging down Highway 3 in her slipper boots and sweatpants, yelling at her father into her giant sparkly-cased cellphone: a sight that seems eye-rollingly familiar in this area.
“Did you actually pass by the spot?” The cashier leans toward the young woman, pulling down her spectacles to look the girl straight in the eye.
“I stopped by the place it happened.” The young woman smiled, “I told my dad that I wish he was still around to help me fix the car. If he were alive I would have never overheated the radiator, so I joked with him that it was really his fault I had to walk.”
“Your dad would have never let a radiator get overheated.” The cashier murmurs. “I’m glad you cussed him out for leaving us so early.”
Both women laugh and the girl finishes paying for her snacks. When she leaves it’s my turn to pay for my cider, but instead of stepping up I blink stupidly at the cashier, stunned.
“Bummer her car broke down.” I remark lamely, setting the cider on the counter and fishing awkwardly in my bag for my wallet.
“Her dad was killed in a car accident last year,” the cashier says casually.
“I’m so sorry.”
“She’s a tough kid.”
We wrap up our transaction and I step out of the minimart into the brilliant sunshine. I am squinting, blindsided both by brightness of the afternoon and by the reality of my astounding ignorance about the people all around me.
I may not think of myself as a judgmental person, but perhaps worse than the snap judgements and the moral shortcuts is just the fact that I can go throughout my day without actually seeing anyone else at all. Every day, stories I can’t even begin to understand are spinning all around me in the lives of the people just outside the periphery of my vision. Only when I collide with a small, yet profound piece of someone’s story do I even notice others exist.
Perhaps the most confused Jesus’ disciples become in the New Testament is whenever Jesus is talking about who is the most important in his kingdom. Jesus was constantly welcoming little children, connecting with the poor and those with unflattering career choices: Jesus said his kingdom was among the marginalized.
I totally empathize with the disciples, I can see how Jesus’ apparent lack of focus could drive a disciple insane! How will children enact the 12 step plan to reconquer Israel from the Romans? How will tax collectors and prostitutes present an on-brand message for our trendy new platform? Why does Jesus always stop in the middle of key publicity events to heal one of those obnoxious poor people?
Don’t we have more important things to do, Jesus?
Jesus’ actions don’t make sense unless we understand what Timothy Keller calls the “upside down kingdom.” While the “right side up kingdom” of normal people are driven by the here-and-now demands of their comfort, power, and security, Jesus acts with radical compassion and self-sacrifice because he knows that his eternal comfort, power, and security are safe with God.
Our natural inclination is the right side up kingdom, which is wrapped up in task lists and agendas attempting to secure our finite, temporary place in this ever shifting world. It’s what Solomon called in Ecclesiastes, “chasing the wind.” Inversely, Jesus’ inclination is always moving towards the people who’s hearts are open to love like flowers opening to the sun. It’s like he did everything throughout his day with one eye scanning the crowd for somebody on which to shower the love of God.
When I’m stand in a dingy old gas station, or the grocery store, or the park with my kids, there is another plane of existence occurring at the same time. In this kingdom the dinner party dishes, fancy ciders, laundry that needs switching, or other tasks that need doing are far less important than the eternal souls all around me. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would open my eyes in the way that they were suddenly jarred awake that afternoon at the Shell station-that I could see people the way he sees them.
About the Author
Allie Hymas is a mother, writer, and textile enthusiast raising two kids and a little herd of Icelandic Sheep with her husband Justin in Etna, California. Allie is passionate about worshipping God through music and gathering people around delicious food.
Allie is a guest worship leader for our church.
New Creations | Thank you, That’s True!
Once in Youth Group, we were talking about compliments. We issued a fun challenge: If someone gives you a compliment, you had to just say, “Thank you!” We realized our culture teaches us to be somewhat uncomfortable with compliments. To deflect or explain or change the subject. Someone’s intent to encourage us turns into an awkward exchange. That is so sad! So in our group, we started by taking some time to compliment each other and respond with a simple, “Thank you!” Then it got real, and we upped the ante. We had the kids respond to a compliment by saying, “Thank you, that’s true.” Wow, that was a challenge! Try it sometime!
We are so trained to see the lack, to see what’s missing, to use a lens that compares and comes up short – especially in regards to ourselves. This is a reflection of what we believe we are at the core, what our identity is.
Often in the City Salt Kids’ classes, we talk about our identity. Who we are. Who God created us to be. We even have a list of verses that the state who God says we are, and we practice believing this about ourselves. It’s so fun to work with our Littles, because they have no problem believing what God says! They believe it about themselves, they believe it about each other, and they believe it about everyone. Easily.
Around Middle School, this begins to change. This is a developmental time in a kiddo’s life, where their brains are actually beginning to be able to think differently about themselves and the world around them. And the world is sadly teaching them to not think much of themselves.
As we continue to grow, the world continues to beat this message into us doesn’t it? To compare ourselves to others, to never be enough, and even in the places we know we are good we aren’t allowed to share or talk about it, at the risk of sounding prideful.
It has been so fun to cover this topic in our woman’s bible study this session as well. We are going through a study by Kris Vallotton, called the Supernatural Ways of Royalty. We are taking a lot of time to look at who God says we are and what we believe about ourselves.
The other week, we had a fun time with this quote from Kris Vallotton:
“You are not what you think you are, and you are not what others think you are, but you become what you think the most important person in your life thinks of you.” -KV
This is so easy to see in my kids’ lives. For example, my third grader loves to play basketball. It just is a part of him. In the house, he will shoot a Nerf basketball at a plastic hoop for hours, playing out whole games in his head. This year, as he started playing on a team, we noticed he wasn’t taking a lot of shots. We encouraged him to shoot when he’s open, but he just didn’t seem to have the confidence. Finally, my husband had a brilliant insight. He sat my son down and told him the truth – that he has a really good shot and he believed my son should take shots in the game. From the next game on, things were different. My son would shoot! He didn’t make them all, in fact not most of them, but he keeps shooting and he has a new confidence because he knows his Dad thinks he has a good shot.
I think this principal applies to all of us, doesn’t it? The words that the important people in our lives have spoken over us, the words we have said over ourselves, the beliefs we have developed, all paint a picture of who we believe we are. And sadly, the picture we paint of ourselves is often way off from the one God paints of each of us. And God, our Dad, wants to sit us down and remind us who He says we are!
I heard it put this way once: You see a painting on the wall. If you insult the painting, you are also insulting the artist and the model. We are the painting, God is the artist, and Jesus was the model. And as our Creator, we get to renew our minds with what He says about us!
Romans 12:2 tells us that our outer transformation starts with changing our thoughts. We can begin to ask God how He sees us, and by spending time with Him and in the Word, we can begin to understand who we really are!
The first step in believing what God says about us is to know what He says. In the Bible, in Ephesians 2:10, it says we are God’s handiwork. And 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us we are a new creation! What does that even mean? SO much! We are something brand new, never before seen creation that was created by God Himself! And who should we look to, for understanding of who we are? Of course, the Creator!
A crazy thing happens as we begin to see ourselves as God sees us. We also begin to see others as God sees them. Instead of being clogged up with comparison and self-protection, we can begin to have God’s eyes to see people as He made them and to call that out in them. As we realize we are deeply loved and have enough, we can pass that message on!
Below is a list that we have been keeping with us in our Bible Study. It lists just some of the things that God says we are. If He says we are, we get to believe it! We have been practicing letting God talk to us through this list, and renewing our minds with how He sees us as new creations! Not perfect, but loved!
My challenge to myself, and to you if you’d like, is to do the same. Let your Dad, Father God, talk to you about who you are. Let Him define how you see yourself and see others. You see, He has His A-team players in the game and He wants to give us the confidence that He loves us and believes in us! John 13:34 tells us Jesus said, “A new command I give to you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” As we receive and realize who God created us to be and how much He loves us, we will have the ability to love others as He loves us! So good!
ACTIVATION:
Take some time to read through the list below.
Are there some that it is easy to believe about yourself? Some that are harder?
Ask God if there are any of these elements of your identity He wants to talk to you about. Take some time to look up the verses, journal about these with God, declare them over yourself. See how this begins to give you a lens to see these things in the people around you as well!
I am wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I am blessed. (Ephesians 1:3)
I am complete. (Colossians 2:10)
I am accepted. (Ephesians 1:6)
I am loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am delightful. (Zephaniah 3:17)
I am forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7)
I am victorious. (Philippians 4:13))
I am beautiful. (Psalm 45:11)
I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
I am chosen. (Colossians 3:12)
I am holy. (Colossians 3:12)
I am dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)
I am God’s handiwork. (Ephesians 2:10)
I am worth fighting for. (Exodus 14:14)
I am healed. (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24)
I am worth it. (Romans 5:6-8)
I am set free. (Galatians 5:1 and Romans 8:12)
I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am royalty. (1 Peter 2:9)
I am God’s daughter/son. (Galatians 3:26 and John 1:12)
And as we walk in that confidence, know who He is and who we are, it is contagious and His light will shine through us!
About the Author
Pam Sand is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves young people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. She joined our staff team in 2012 and oversees the ministry of ages from birth to eighth grade. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys.
New Creations | Living a New Creation Journey
Ephesians 5: Walk in Love
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…”
We are living a predestined life journey, yet we determine our own journey both at the same time. Our life stories become full of pivotal choices, slight adjustments, unexpected opportunity and events that happen to us. We live in this web of events and wonder about God’s plan for us while we debate what choices to make in our lives. The complexity of how one event effects and responds to other events is often beyond our comprehension.
I am so grateful to the Lord for my husband. He was the final blessing in my life that revealed the truth of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I had been searching off and on since my grandfather passed away when I was 14. My grandfather was a very spiritual man toward the end of his life and had opened a Christian book store. I was so intrigued by his faith. I am sure he prayed often, because I could sense the peace and power in the places he had spent his time, even after he passed.
I continued to explore through high school and then faded off in college. When I met my husband, it wasn’t his detailed knowledge of what the bible said that impressed me most, but his unwavering conviction of a biblical truth and the one true God. He spoke about God like he was a true friend, a role-model, someone or a concrete something that he looked up to, truly loved and depended on. Through my husband’s faith, I had found what I was looking for!
A couple years later I was baptized. It was such a simple adjustment, yet so deep and profound all at the same time. We continued to be part of our amazing church community until we packed up and moved out of the country. During the years leading up to our move, I joined as many bible studies as I could with two small children and continued my journey in faith. A theme in one of these bible studies was how God gave us the freedom to choose. CHOICE is on my mind a lot.
I am amazed at how God guides us and is always there for us, while at the same time allowing that space for us to CHOOSE HIM. It is the most perfect balance of love, intention and strength. As a parent, the love we have for our children drives a desire for their freedom, independence and joy. We intentionally weave around them trying to put in place all the right steps and opportunities that will lead them through this journey safe and fulfilled. Yet it takes so much strength not to pull them away from wrong choices and force them into a safe bubble. We persist, knowing that there is usually little joy in a life chosen for us.
I imagine God must have to redirect new opportunities for me all the time! As I wander off, how does He so gently guide me back? His power is so great that there can exist a predestined plan for me, all while providing space for me to choose for myself, what God has already set out for me. My husband was put in front of me, in an unexpected place, at an unexpected time, yet I still needed to choose to speak to him, to listen to him and to decide to join him in this life journey.
A concept tricky to comprehend, until we understand that this path laid out for us is the only choice that will truly fulfill us; it is the path carefully and lovingly formed by our Creator. All we need to do is choose God.
The amazing beauty in all of it is that God truly is in control, and he has offered us redemption and the Holy Spirit so that we have a constant guide as we choose to follow in His light. To be honest, this is still not completely comprehensible to me, but it shouldn’t be! God is so amazing and I embrace the AWE-someness of it all. This most amazing God has laid out a web of events that is and will be our journey, we have the freedom to choose within that and The Holy Spirit lives within us and is our guide. I find this so beautiful and so real. It’s a never ending, awe-inspiring concept for me. Maybe that’s because we’ve chosen a spontaneous, nomadic lifestyle… or was this always God’s plan for me?
Ephesians 5:8-14
“... 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
About the Author
Leona Abrahao is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.
Lent | Embracing Discomfort
It seems odd to say that I enjoy Lent. Lent is probably not a favorite to win “Most Popular Liturgical Season” anytime soon. But there is something that feels deeply necessary about this season of fasting and penitence, when we are surrounded by a culture of constant excess.
I am not against celebrations. But after the ongoing celebrations of the holiday season, I am ready for the opportunity to observe this quiet season of reflection and fasting. In our culture, we are constantly encouraged to put ourselves first and seek instant gratification. Anytime we feel hungry/sad/lonely/bored we can distract ourselves with our smartphones or grab some food at the drive-through. Taking a break from that, even in a small way — like temporarily giving up chocolate or social media — can allow us to slow down and look to Christ for the gratification we would typically get from the object of our fast.
And what happens when we do look to Christ — when we pray, meditate, or read the Bible but we continue feeling hungry/sad/lonely/bored?
Is it possible that Christ wants us to feel these feelings from time to time?
Is it possible that Christ wants us to feel?
Is it possible that, while living a life of instant gratification and comfort, we have grown numb?
Perhaps we have to sit in the discomfort awhile. Christ was uncomfortable, a homeless wanderer who was betrayed by a trusted disciple, then beaten before being executed in an incomprehensibly painful way.
Isaiah 53:3
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.”
The word excruciating literally means “from the cross.” So then, crucifixion was so painful that it led to a word that now describes the worst pain you can imagine.
Most of us don’t really know what it means to suffer. I’ll never forget when I was studying abroad in the capital city of Ghana. One afternoon, as my Ghanaian friend was attempting to help me navigate the public transportation system, she turned to me and said seriously, “Ursula, we are going to have to suffer today.”
I looked at her confused, and she explained that the bus was not running, and I would have to find a way to walk the many miles home. But I had no idea how to walk home from where we were, and I had no intention of suffering. I didn’t have to — I had plenty of cash. I told her I would take a taxi, and she was surprised I could afford such an extravagance. But for only a few American dollars, I was able to escape a difficult situation.
I will never have to know the suffering of walking home for hours across a polluted African city, dodging traffic and open sewers. I will never know the suffering of the poor in Ghana or in other developing countries around the world, who don’t have welfare or financially stable relatives to turn to.
If I didn’t choose to, I would never have to know even the discomfort of going a day without chocolate or Internet access.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only few find it.
There is something else that stood out to me in Ghana, besides the extreme poverty. It was the deep Christian faith possessed by many who live there and the pervasive sense of dependence on God. Perhaps our comfort and material wealth in America has distanced us from God. Maybe during this season of Lent, Christ is inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him by allowing ourselves to be a little uncomfortable.
Maybe that discomfort will be the place where we finally find peace.
About the Author
Ursula Crawford and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon. You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.
Community Prayer Guide | February 2018
Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps the church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.
One Church - One Day Community Prayer February 2018
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then …I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27
Church
Pray for Jesus-followers to love the people of our community and live boldly for Jesus.
Pray for the Lord’s priorities of first love & agape love to be preeminent in the lives of all local Jesus-followers.
Pray for the Prince of Peace to reign in shalom over Lane County: peace, wholeness & prosperity of soul through the Gospel of Jesus.
Pray for God’s power in the united demonstration and proclamation of the Gospel.
Pray for Hispanic pastors & leaders: God’s provision, power, blessing and fruitfulness upon their churches.
Education
Pray for Jesus-following educators to “seek first” the Kingdom daily, so they clearly see God’s priorities in their sphere of influence and live above the burdens and demands of a heavy workload.
Pray for Christians at LCC and UO to be filled with the Spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.
Pray they cast off fear and boldly share their lives and faith.
Pray for many college students to be drawn by the Holy Spirit, and invited by friends, to the February 12th Evangelistic Outreach on the UO campus, called Come and See. Pray for each person who attends to connect in a local church/ministry.
Pray for movement and momentum towards every local school having a group of “Safe Families” available to host and provide short-term care for vulnerable students.
Family
Pray for struggling families to have barriers removed and advocates assist them in becoming strong & stable.
Pray for parents to prioritize their families and provide secure loving homes for their marriages & children.
Pray for God to heal relationships in local families, and for entire families to turn and follow the Lord.
Pray for more affordable housing units for our community, for God to use His people to be part of the solution, and for God to remove barriers for everyone in need of housing.
Government
Pray for God to shepherd the county and cities’ efforts to increase affordable housing units.
Pray for the Junction City, Springfield and Eugene downtown areas to be safe, welcoming and peaceful.
Pray for God’s wisdom, love and direction to be upon all of our government leaders and their families.
Pray for a positive and constructive “community narrative:” reconciliation, respectful public discourse, discussions and efforts for the best community outcomes.
Business
Pray for encouraging and wise relationships that build trust among our business, government & faith sectors.
Pray for God’s hand to be on new development projects, so they become community-wide assets for good:
The Knight Campus: cooperation and selfless wisdom among community and campus goals.
The Riverfront redevelopment: a united vision and agreement among developers and the city.
The 5th St. Market/Inn expansion: the Lord’s blessing on the plans and construction.
Arts
Pray for God’s power and blessing on the Pacific Rim Art Guild as they share their artistic gifts with local non-profits, DHS offices and foster children through art classes.
Pray for Jesus-following artists & musicians to have more opportunities to share their faith through their gifts.
Pray for God to lead the Cuthbert Amphitheater staff as they select artists for the coming season.
Pray for artists, musicians and performers to be drawn to Jesus and the Gospel, so that they can find the peace and meaning they are looking for.
Health Care
Pray that health care providers be a clear voice for the sanctity of life.
Pray for quality health care to be accessible to all who have need in our community.
Pray for harmony & good working relationships with hospital administration, employees & unions.
Pray for health care providers to be empowered and effective in treating mental illness, substance abuse, and those struggling with suicide.
Pray for Jesus-following health care providers to mentor students & serve worldwide via medical missions.
Police and Fire Departments
Pray for strength, peace, and refreshing for all 911 Communication Center and Dispatch workers.
Pray for new quality and “charactered” recruits to be hired in all agencies.
Pray for the wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for the well-being and emotional health of first responders, their spouses and children.
Pray for God to lead the process and selection of the next Police Chief for the Eugene Police Department.
Pray for positive and encouraging relationships between first responders and community members.
Media
Pray for the Lord’s favor and truth upon all media reporting of CityServe and CityFest activities.
Pray for local media to promote and equip community members to listen and understand one another better.
Pray for local stories to break down negative stereotypes and help neighbors love neighbors.
Pray for truthful, fair and accurate reporting in all areas of local media.
Pray for God to lead the Register Guard in the 2018 “community focus” series of stories.
Sports
Pray for the Lord’s blessing on the YMCA organization, programs, athletes, coaches and referees.
Pray for safety, protection and peace over every public sporting event.
Pray for coaches at all levels to be empowered to encourage, teach, inspire and lead with integrity.
Pray for negative sexual agendas to be diffused in all sporting organizations, and for stories of purity to be celebrated and promoted.
Check out the answers to prayer on our website: http://onehopenetwork.org/testimonies.
New Creations | The Side Door
Escape rooms seem to be “a thing” right now. You get with some friends, pay your money, then are locked in a room with only your collective wits and an hour to escape. That may sound claustrophobic for some, but for me the strategy, challenge and group interaction seems appealing (I haven’t done one yet).
Fictional games are one thing because we know we have an out. But wiggling around in our real-life tight spaces is another story. We believers are indeed new creations, and all things do become new. But much of this change doesn’t just happen - easily or quickly. It needs to be worked out.
The mystery and a frustrated effort in a hard life circumstance can make us feel helpless and alone, caught in a whirlpool of fear, anxiety and even depression. Not knowing what to do is hard, and reaching out for help - perhaps even harder.
Beyond finding the way out, we typically also want to know the WHY of it all. There are always lessons to be learned - a revelation tailor-made just for us, but seldom within our best time frame, right?
Recently, in the midst of an “escape room” situation (though not the fun and games kind), I heard the Lord whisper to me in my frustration and despair. He said, “You won’t find the way out right now, but I will give you a side door”.
“What?”
He continued: “I am not asking you to solve all this by yourself, but I do need a response to my direction. Your side door is your point of response - something to DO as an act of obedience”. Even though he wasn’t offering “an escape” from my problems, I said yes.
I realized that my Lord and I are a team, but there is plenty that I just can’t handle, let alone have the vision and understanding for. He does the very difficult, and I respond by helping and not getting in between Him and the ultimate solution. Specific actions right now, and “ah ha” moments of understanding will follow.
So let’s look for His side door for us. It’s not a way out, but a way through!
About the Author
Terry Sheldon is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.
He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.
New Creations | The World is About to Turn
Ordinary Time. That’s what the Church calls these long weeks after Epiphany (the last hurrah of Christmas) and before Lent. The Savior has arrived, the Creator of the whole world is among us, incarnated in flesh and blood and bone…so now what? What are we to make of that space in between? Do we sit back and wait, or is there something deeply compelling and convicting about Ordinary Time, which is really not so “ordinary” at all?
In Luke 2:22-32, we read about Jesus’ presentation at the Temple, which took place forty days after his birth. Deeply faithful, and poor, Jesus’ parents bring him and two small birds to present to the priest. At the temple, they encounter Simeon, who the gospel writer describes as “righteous and devout…waiting for the consolation of Israel.” The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah.
“Moved by the Spirit, [Simeon] went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’”
Later in his life and ministry, Jesus would encounter extreme resistance from the religious establishment. This God enfleshed didn’t look like the Savior expected by Israel. Instead of a mighty Messiah who would emancipate the Jewish people from the Roman occupation, Jesus turned out to be a wandering teacher who broke the Law, consorted with rejects on the far margins of society, and disavowed the long-held acceptability of violent retaliation.
We get a glimpse of what the radical life and ministry of Jesus will hold in Mary’s spontaneous song of praise upon her visit to Elizabeth. Her son will be the one who scatters the proud, brings down the powerful from their thrones, lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry with good things, and sends the rich away empty (Luke 1:46-55). I wonder if she wasn’t quite the naïve farm girl we often portray her to be.
For those of us in the global north, this first Ordinary Time starts in the dead of winter. Days are short, dark, and cold, and it’s easy to succumb to the temptation to let the prophetic imagination hibernate. In the last few years, I have located a profound sense of hope, of surpassing joy, in this song, inspired by Mary’s own hymn of praise more than two thousand years ago. “From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone. Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne. The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn; There are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.”
Nothing we can do will bring about the Kingdom of God. But perhaps one great opportunity of Ordinary Time is to sit with the fantastic reality that God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and showed us how to live in this brand new world…our world…a world into which the Kingdom of God has broken, but has not yet been fully realized. And what does that living look like?
Humility. Lament. Fidelity. Justice. Mercy. Peacemaking. Turning the other cheek. The pursuit of righteousness. Loving our enemies. Relationships before ritual. Giving to everyone who begs from you. And on, and on. Because the world has begun to turn.
Canticle of the Turning
Words by Rory Cooney
My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the one who waits.
You fixed your sight on the servant's plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?
Refrain:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears,
For the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn.
Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me.
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.
From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
These are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.
Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise that holds us bound,
'Til the spear and rod be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.
About the Author
Sarah Withrow King is the author of Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith (Zondervan, 2016) and Animals Are Not Ours (No, Really, They’re Not): An Evangelical Animal Liberation Theology (Cascade Books, 2016). She spends her days working for Evangelicals for Social Action and CreatureKind, helping Christians put their faith into action. She lives in Eugene with her husband, son, and animal companions and enjoys action movies, black coffee, the daily crossword, and dreaming of her next international journey.
New Creations | Fresh Start
The longer I live the more I enjoy the New Year’s holiday. It reminds me of Christ’s life changing gifts of salvation and redemption. I treasure the privilege of a fresh start that allows to me to learn from past failures without condemnation. This gives me the freedom to grow into the new life that Christ gives me.
I had such an opportunity recently. I did much research to find the best company to move my 123 year old, 700 pound piano from storage to my home. I asked the 2-man team I’d hired to replace the old metal wheels with a newer rubber composite design.
The piano was levered onto blocks in the storage unit and I watched the two men remove the old screws and wheels. One of the screws broke off in the piano base meaning they would have to drill new holes for one wheel to accommodate the new wheel design. I bit my lip and resisted the urge to worry and complain as the process continued.
However, it soon became evident the new caster wheels would not click into the new wheel receptacles, which were already bolted into the piano base. I started to panic, questioning my choice of contractor. I felt a knot in my stomach and feared I was about to lose my temper.
A calming thought came into my mind guiding me to walk away from the unit and pray. As I prayed I looked up at the sky, and at a great height I saw a hawk gracefully and effortlessly soaring on the thermals. I realized that the same loving, Heavenly Father that keeps the hawk aloft will faithfully take care of me.
When I came back to the storage unit the moving contractor and his assistant were installing the last caster wheel into its receptacle. He told me the usual casters he liked to use were discontinued and these new wheels needed to be installed differently. He stated he just needed time to figure it out.
If had complained I would have missed out on seeing how God faithfully provided me with a highly knowledgeable and experienced moving contractor. The man explained to me that wood, as it ages becomes harder, and that it was not unusual for screws to snap off in old wood. He and his assistant then skillfully moved my piano into my home. I smile when I see it in my living room, remembering the lesson learned.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
About the Author
Sara Gore has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”
New Creations | Dogged Obedience
If you’ve ever owned a dog, you know what a wonderful source of love and companionship they can be. Most of the dogs I’ve owned, however, could not be trusted off leash in community situations. We did have the honor of enjoying a big yellow Lab in our family for 14 years and Ollie was one of those dogs that could be relied on to behave (tennis balls and squirrels notwithstanding). Our current dog; Sadie, is sweet and gentle but sadly has earned a short leash existence. It is a beautiful thing to see a dog that can operate without the need for constant supervision… a dog who can be counted on to do exactly what the master has trained it to do and not wander off to do whatever those other, unwise dogs, might do. Dusty has mentioned their dog Hammy in this context. If I recall correctly, Hammy lost many an opportunity to do enjoyable things with the family because he just could not be trusted to be obedient.
An analogy can be made to our human experience. As we acquire knowledge and learn to apply what we’ve learned it can look a lot like ‘Wisdom’. But what does it look like when apply our hard earned wisdom? I believe it looks a lot like ‘Obedience’. Knowledge is to wisdom as wisdom is to obedience.
Wisdom is the application of knowledge
Obedience is the application of wisdom.
~Anonymous
I heard this phrase a decade or so ago and it has stayed in that little corner of my brain reserved for the profound. I first understood that this quote was attributed to Solomon but find that this is not included among Solomon’s writings in the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Song of Solomon. In any case, as I grow older, it is becoming increasingly clear that this progression from knowledge to wisdom and then on to obedience is vital in our journey to understand and carry out God’s will in our lives.
John 14:23
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
The word obedience often carries a negative connotation as it is often perceived as conflicting with our independence or free will. Mandated obedience is not what I am talking about here. If someone tells us that we have to do this or can’t do that, it just makes (many of) us want to do the opposite. We can certainly learn about obedience through the consequences mandated by the mortal authorities in our lives. However, wouldn’t it be great if we could move beyond the need for negative consequences toward the kind of obedience that occurs naturally through wisdom: Obedience that springs forth from our hearts because we have wisdom enough to understand that doing God’s will enlarges our ability to be independent and gives focus to our free choice.
God does not operate by leashing us until we prove we can be trusted. God instead provides us with opportunity, every moment, to be a New Creation… to apply our wisdom as a new being obedient by nature because we trust God enough to let go of our old selves as he refines our knowledge into wisdom and our wisdom into obedience.
Thank you Lord for the gift of free will that I may choose to obey your teachings. Please help me understand Your vision for my life and provide the power to carry out Your will through beautiful obedience. Amen.
About the Author
Joseph Scheyer was born in Pendleton, Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon from which he graduated in 1979. He then served as a medic in the US Air Force.
Joseph has been married to the same woman for 38 years and they have four awesome children. He has enjoyed careers in forestry, education and software and currently is a substitute teacher and loving it! Joseph gives his time working with our kids’ ministry and helps out in Sunday worship by running the video screen when asked.
New Creations | “Through My Savior’s Eyes”
Have you ever thought you would like to be part of something and then said to yourself, What I was thinking?
I do this a lot. Like when I went to a CitySalt blogger meeting last month. After the meeting, I didn’t think about it again until I received notice that it was my turn to write. That’s when I thought, Oh, no! What was I thinking? My topic was a new creation…
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,” the Bible says. “Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”.
When I received Jesus as a child, I became a new creation. I have been that “new creation” for about 51 years. But for countless years, I did not know what or how to be the person that my God created me to be. And I did not understand why I couldn’t be who I thought I should be or who I thought I ought to be. Then I learned that abuse can keep a person from understanding that they are created in God’s image. The abuse I suffered as a child, the abuse and betrayal I suffered as an adult, and some of my own choices had made it impossible to be who I thought God wanted me to be.
Now I know it is important to see people and myself through my Savior’s eyes. This was a lesson I learned when Mr. B came into my life. At 27 months, “they” said he tested as a nine-month-old, and I was told that gap would likely never change. I can remember holding him in my arms, praying to God. I would say; “My Jesus, I want him to be who You created him to be. Please, Lord, I do not want what the world has done to him to be who he becomes. I just want him to be who You created him to be, no matter what that looks like.
Slowly he began to talk. I taught him that I loved him and that he could trust me. I taught him that Jesus loved him. I taught him how to run to me when he was afraid or in pain instead of running from me.
Today, instead of listening to the words of people who say that I try hard but I can’t do anything right...I have no talent...I am stupid—I could go on and on with this list but I will not—these days, at almost 65, I listen to what my Jesus says: I am loved, I am chosen; I am His bride; I can trust in MY Jesus when I am afraid (Psalms 56:3), and I am a new creation.
I realize that being the creation my God intended me to be is a lifetime mission. As I take the hand of my Jesus and walk in who He has created me to be, I am beginning to see me as Jesus sees me. Just like Mr. B, I need to know that I can trust Jesus and that He loves me. I need to know that He wants me to talk to Him even if it starts with just a few words. Lastly, I need to run to my Jesus when I am hurt or in pain and allow Him to heal that hurt with His love. And when my journey is done here on earth and I enter into my Jesus’ arms, I will be a COMPLETE NEW CREATION.
Psalm 56:3
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
About the Author
Sara-Etha Schnieder will tell you, “My Jesus is my very best Friend.”
Sara has worked for Lane Community College for over 20 years and has been a member of CitySalt (SouthHills) Church from the very first service. She co-leads the Women’s 242 group that meets the 3rd Friday of every Month from September to June. She is a proud mother of 4 children and has 13 grandchildren who she dearly loves.
Following a year of multiple health issues she created a “to-do” Celebration List because she feels blessed to be alive! This year she hopes to be able to cross parasailing off that list.
Community Prayer Guide | January 2018
Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps the church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.
One Church - One Day Community Prayer January 2018
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Church
Pray for pastors & leadership teams to be empowered with unified vision, wisdom and plans for the new year.
Pray for the health of pastors and leaders: spiritually, physically, their marriages, finances & friendships.
Pray for Jesus-followers in our community to love one another and all of our neighbors more and more.
Pray the Numbers 6:24-26 blessing over our community: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Education
Pray for Christian educators to walk in the Spirit daily, and see specific students at specific moments who need God-inspired specific interactions.
Pray for Christian students to unite to pray for their campuses, and gain a heart for their peers who are in darkness.
Pray they respond with acts of love and Gospel conversation.
Pray for peace, protection, and God-inspired actions to address behavioral unrest in all schools.
Pray for students & families to find community in local churches & God’s people through school partnerships.
Family
Pray for God to heal relationships in local families, and for entire families to turn and follow the Lord.
Pray for the 200+ teen parents in our community to find and access the support that they need.
Pray for the “Marriage Team” ministry to gain more coaches & for a strong local network of marriage support.
Pray for God’s blessing on all parenting classes, and for parents to be equipped to love & lead their children.
Pray for more affordable housing units for our community, for God to use His people to be part of the solution, and for God to remove barriers for everyone in need of housing.
Government
Pray for the Lord’s blessing, wisdom and grace to be upon all of our government leaders.
Pray for a positive and constructive “community narrative:” reconciliation, respectful public discourse, discussions and efforts for the best community outcomes.
Pray for all new planning for land use, parks, transportation, and economic development to proceed with a habit of cooperation among private & public groups.
Pray for government agencies to work together with greater synergy and effectiveness:
The county, cities, utility companies, schools, first responders, etc.
Business
Pray for a greater partnership between business and education sectors to train more people in trade skills.
Pray for business leaders to train and mentor younger leaders in virtue, skill and humility.
Pray for encouraging and wise relationships that build trust among our business, government & faith sectors.
Pray for new businesses to start, and established businesses to move to our community in order to create more family-wage jobs.
Arts
Pray for Jesus-following artists to develop their gifts/talents and express them in our community.
Pray for deliverance & healing from drug addiction for musicians, actors, writers & visual artists.
Pray for the Lord’s vision and clear direction for the leaders of the Pacific Rim Art Guild.
Pray for artists, musicians and performers to be drawn to Jesus and the Gospel, so that they can find the peace and meaning they are looking for.
Health Care
Pray for “end of life care” to be more holistic to maximize the quality of life.
Pray health care providers are a voice for the sanctity of life.
Pray for those with unexpected pregnancies to pursue help through Dove Medical and other encouraging providers.
Pray for harmony & good working relationships with hospital administration, employees & unions.
Pray for health care providers to be empowered and effective in treating mental illness and substance abuse.
Pray for God’s hope & love to intervene for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Pray for a decrease in the suicide rate (The Lane County suicide rate has almost doubled this year).
Police and Fire Departments
Pray for new quality and “charactered” recruits to be hired in all agencies.
Pray for the wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for the well-being and emotional health of first responders, their spouses and children.
Pray for wise, experienced and empowered chaplains to be established in all agencies.
Pray for God to lead the process and selection of the next Police Chief for the Eugene Police Department.
Pray for positive and encouraging relationships between first responders and community members.
Media
Pray for God to lead the Register Guard in the 2018 “community focus” series of stories.
Pray for local media to promote and equip community members to listen and understand one another better.
Pray for local stories to break down negative stereotypes and help neighbors love neighbors.
Pray for truthful, fair and accurate reporting in all areas of local media.
Sports
Pray for God to lead all of the preparations for the 2021 World Track and Field Championships: new facilities, community readiness, security and new infrastructure.
Pray for safety, protection and peace over every public sporting event.
Pray for coaches at all levels to be empowered to encourage, teach, inspire and lead with integrity.
Pray for funding and the fruition of the Eugene Civic Alliance’s vision to build a new sports and recreation complex for children on the former Civic Stadium site.
Pray for negative sexual agendas to be diffused in all sporting organizations, and for stories of purity to be celebrated and promoted.
Pray for the Lord’s blessing on the YMCA organization, programs, athletes, coaches and referees.
Fourth Sunday of Advent | Immanuel - “God with Us”
I have to tell you, I really love the Christmas season.
Upon hearing that, some of you agree and some of you cringe. And I think that’s a part of why I love it… the wonder, the complexity, the thought-provoking element that it brings.
For me, whether its Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or Winter Break, this time of year gathers all my friends, from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs, into a similar song. It opens hearts and love abounds. I love that it breaks down barriers and it brings people together. I love that so many share the desire to celebrate, to have joy, to be generous and festive. It’s a time when families gather, traditions are created, pictures are taken, and memories are made. It’s a time we think of others and how to delight their hearts. Even our houses are decked out with such gaudy atrocity that kids squeal with delight! Schools get a break, many people get at least a day or 2 extra off, and calendars are overflowing with party plans.
Pausing and looking around, I think we display community more right now than any other time of year. And I believe Jesus is with us here. In the middle of this. He is with us, and He loves this.
But there’s more, isn’t there? As I’ve gotten older and experienced more life, I have both experienced and witnessed a different view of the holidays. There is also the side of not having a group to gather with, of all this togetherness making the alone so clear, painfully highlighting what is lacking. Of not being able to afford to eat, let alone buy gifts for the family. Of the very words used to celebrate this time causing division and pain. Of the highlighted suffering in the world contrasted by spending $5 for a red cup. Of remembering a lost loved one, the suffering and sadness of the last with or the first without. Of memories being more painful than warm, of curling up at home and just wishing it was January. Of the tension of holding the broken overshadowing the invitation to celebrate. Jesus is with us here too. In the midst. Holding us tight and sharing in our tears.
And as I have taken this time to stop and try to capture a summary of what others may experience in this season, I realize that this is an impossible task. I am likely leaving out your point of view, what is important to you, what you are passionate about, what you love and what you hate about Christmas time, and I’m sorry. The truth is, each one of us would describe this season, this moment, in a totally unique way. Our internal design, our likes and dislikes, our memories and wounds, our families and surroundings shape each one of us so totally uniquely and cause us to experience this season so differently. I think that is amazing. But the really amazing thing is, in each of our descriptions, whether we know it or not, only one thing never changes - Jesus is with each one of us.
So this season I have spent many quiet mornings, with my cup of coffee, learning to just sit with this dichotomy. For me, I realize it’s actually the reason why I love this season. I realize that every single person would describe their Christmas differently. Their likes, dislikes, beliefs, and the list goes on. But that doesn’t change a Truth. Christmas is declaring a Truth. And the Truth of Christmas time is so much bigger than our current experience and circumstances. And whether we realize it or not, whether we make it the center or a side note, whether we even believe it or not, the Truth of Christmas is Jesus, and that He is with us.
Christmas is an indisputable Truth and a reminder of just that - that Jesus is with us. Immanuel. That He came down in the raw, in the real, in the poop and the blood, the miraculous and the mundane. He experienced the silly, the fun and the festive, and He also experienced the sad, and the deep, and the painful.
He is the two sides to the coin. He holds the tension. He knows that in God’s Presence is the fullness of joy, and that as we are suffering, we are in God’s Presence. He is the King and the Baby. He is the Ruler and the Crucified. He is the life that is attained through death. He is LOVE.
And that is what is being highlighted to me during Advent this year. As I go through each week, taking time out, making space, being present, the tension gets very loud. Trying to hold my view, and your view, and make space for the rest of the world’s experience right now. I wrestle with how to give a voice to it all, how to honor God in it, how to love people in it, how to balance having so much going on at the same time. As we prepare, whatever that looks like for each of us, we cannot help but stumble into this wrestling match – for each of us it’s varied and personal and real. And He is with us.
He knew there was no easy answer. He knew there wasn’t a right slogan or a pat solution that would help us with this wrestle of life. He made us way too complex for that! He made each of us so unique and varied. He knew that only by coming, only by really Him personally being with each one of us, would we have access to the answer. And the answer is Him!
Jesus said, “In this world you will have troubles.” And we can all attest that this is true. But….He is with us and He has overcome this world.
So as Christmas Eve comes upon us, and we get ready to light the last candle of Advent, this is what stands out to me: Jesus is with us. Immanuel.
My prayer as you read this is….that you would feel His presence. That whether this moment is filled with excitement or suffering, you would know that He is with you. His love gives you permission to wrestle and grace for what that looks like. He joins in your laughter and wipes your tears. He knows what hurts, and He understands our why. We just get to be exactly who we are, and He is always with us.
And He is with us, also helping us to love our neighbors – giving us the patience and insight to honor their wrestling, the love to let them be in their process, and the understanding of how complex and different we all are. He is reminding us that He came for all of us, and that He asks us to love and let His light shine, because through this is how others will come to know Him.
So this holiday season, I wish you a season that is filled with the wonder of the Truth. The Truth that is the foundation below it all, that never changes, that we can count on, and that will never will leave or forsake us. Immanuel.
Thank you for being part of my community, and a wonderful piece of my life that I treasure! Much love to you today!
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
About the Author
Pam Sand is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves young people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. She joined our staff team in 2012 and oversees the ministry of ages from birth to eighth grade. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys.
Third Sunday of Advent | Learning to Find JOY in the Holiday Season
I know it sounds silly. The holiday season is suppose to be full of joy. In my experience though, it won’t just float down upon us, or come wrapped in a decorated box. By following the evolving traditions of modern culture, are we finding true joy? Or just moments of surface happiness, strung together like Christmas lights around the tree?
Over the years, my husband and I have simplified holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. This has been about not doing, not buying, not planning things. It is a very cleansing experience and opens up space for what truly brings us joy. There is a lot of intention in our choices, but they also come from a specific lifestyle we have chosen. We are both lovers of adventure, travel and experience, and over the last 12 years we have lived between 3 countries and in numerous homes. Moving will drive you to insanity if you cling to material things, so we don’t.
I can clearly divide our 12 years together into 7 “seasons”. While we are continuously working toward maintaining the lifestyle we have chosen, we often make last minute, unexpected decisions. We try to intentionally leave our hearts open to opportunity that may present itself, and to be aware of the Lord nudging us in a specific direction.
When we approach times of change and are faced with uncertainty, we can feel scared and anxious.
Luke 2:8-9
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
We push and pray ourselves into believing in the future, into having Faith in what God has for us, into believing in His promises and His word.
With each “seasonal change”, I imagine myself (and the life-journey I am on), as a painting that the Lord is carefully adding to or revealing. We can’t imagine what He has in store for us in the future, but as we dream about tomorrow’s adventures, we can choose hope and excitement.
It is not easy to choose hope and excitement over fear. In this struggle, I cling to my faith. Some moments I feel like a child telling myself, “there’s not a monster by the closet. It’s only a pile of clothes” or “it will all work out, everything will be okay”.
It’s not easy to choose hope and excitement over fear. Yet it is possible.
This year the Lord has us in yet another new season. He has sat down in front of the canvas and is ready to reveal a new chapter in our lives; now pause. Again.
He has sat down in front of the canvas and is ready to reveal a new chapter in our lives.
Breath in that truth.
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
While we have the freedom of choice, God is there with us, guiding us, encouraging us and lighting the right paths at all the forks in the road. His Holy Spirit lives with us and it all began with the birth of Jesus Christ. There is no uncertainty in this truth, regardless of what unexpected changes we may be facing. This “good news” that has brought us “great joy” is here with us now, in this moment. We do not need to wait.
As the shepherds sat in the field, ready to wait out the night and in anticipation for a new day, they were probably a little cold and maybe a little anxious. They became “terrified” by the sudden appearance of angels. It was unexpected and powerful. Yet it was in this moment that the Lord brought them joy. In these moments of uncertainty, in seasons of transition (whether it is a big life change or just a new year) we have the opportunity to experience true joy.
When we have been stripped of the comforts that we thought we needed to fill our lives with, whether through hardship or choice, space is created to return to what truly matters. What is it that truly matters? Each year, this becomes a topic of conversation, revolving around gifts, stuff and the chaos of the season. Often times we acknowledge the fact that we do too much, buy too much and make ourselves too busy. Sometimes we are afraid of missing out on something or feeling empty without “the holiday cheer”. But if we can face the truth that “GOD IS ENOUGH” - more than enough! - we can find ways to create space in our lives to find joy in what we have.
About the Author
Leona Abrahao is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.
Second Sunday of Advent | Rediscovering the Joy of Christmas
It was early, which has always been my hour to begin looking at the world
And of course, even in the darkness, to begin listening into it,
Especially under the pines where the owl lives and sometimes calls out
As I walk by, as he did on this morning. So many gifts!
What do they mean? In the marshes where the pink light was just arriving
The mink with his bristle tail was stalking the soft-eared mice,
And in the pines the cones were heavy, each one ordained to open.
Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.
-- from It was Early, by Mary Oliver
As a child I loved everything about Christmas. It was the most magical time of year. I remember the excitement of driving into Forest Service land to pick out the perfect Christmas tree with my parents. I always wanted something huge. The tree that would actually fit in our house never seemed big enough out in the forest. Then there was the tradition of getting our treasured family ornaments out of storage every year and finding the perfect spot to place each one. I loved the way the tree looked in our living room, covered in mismatched ornaments and lights. I loved the smell of the fir needles wafting through our house. I loved watching as wrapped gifts were placed under the tree and the anticipation of opening them on Christmas morning.
We didn’t go to church and I didn’t know much about Jesus back then. Still, the magic of Christmas was all around, in the decorations, the carols, the lights, and the gifts. And yes, Santa Claus was a big part of it too. I would leave milk and cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve and he always left behind crumbs and a thank you note. I used to get up on Christmas morning at the crack of dawn to see what surprises Santa had left in my stocking. I would fall back asleep on the couch as I waited for my parents to wake up at a more reasonable hour. One early morning I even heard bells as I tiptoed towards the living room.
At some point I stopped getting up early on Christmas morning. I stopped believing in Santa Claus, and I stopped receiving so many gifts from relatives. By the time I was an adult, Christmas had almost entirely lost its magic for me.
By then I knew Jesus and I had no use for the clutter of Christmas trees or decorations, stockings or Secret Santa gift exchanges. I rejected the emptiness of our highly commercialized cultural celebration of Chri$tma$. It was the holiday season I spent working at a busy Portland-area shopping mall that really turned me off. Between the constantly looping holiday video, the grumpy customers, the freeway traffic jams, and the ever-changing sales that never rang up correctly — it was a giant headache. After that, I opted out of the gift giving side of Christmas as much as possible.
Now as a mom of two young children I want to create memories of a magical Christmas season for my own family. I also want our family celebration of Christmas to be something that honors and draws us closer to Christ. Gifts are a part of our family celebration, but our goal is always to have gifts be a side note to the joy of spending time together, rather than a central focus.
I also want to be open to receive gifts this Christmas season, the gifts that come directly from the Lord and that are often overlooked. Sometimes we simply need to open our eyes to become aware of these types of gifts. As Mary Oliver writes, “Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”
So I will use this Christmas season as an opportunity to practice gratitude and notice the abundant blessings already present in my life. This weekend I took my daughter roller-skating and she was brave and resilient in the face of many falls. Yesterday I saw a huge double rainbow out my kitchen window. Tonight my husband made us dinner, and later I got to snuggle close to my 2-year-old as I put him to bed.
But it’s not all rosy is it? This morning I cried in my car on the way to work as I thought about the brokenness in our world and my inability to do much about it. Sometimes the world around us feels very dark indeed.
Thankfully Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the biggest gift of all — Jesus Himself. Emmanuel. God is with us, and He is the light we need to overcome the darkness. It is no accident that we celebrate Christ’s birth so close to the winter solstice, literally the darkest time of year.
John 1: 4-5
“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”
Jesus, redeemer, bringer of hope, bringer of light. Let us be open to receive the gifts that you have for us. And let us be filled with your light, so that we can be a light to others when they need one.
About the Author
Ursula Crawford and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon. You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.
Community Prayer Guide | December 2017
Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps the church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.
One Church - One Day Community Prayer December 2017
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
Church
Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower every Christmas service and outreach this season.
Pray for Jesus-followers in our community to love one another and all of our neighbors more and more.
Pray for the beauty of Christ’s Advent to lead people to pursue Jesus and His kingdom.
Pray the Numbers 6:24-26 blessing over our community: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Education
Pray for Christian educators to walk in the Spirit daily, and see specific students at specific moments who need God-inspired specific interactions.
Pray for Christian students to unite and pray for their campuses, and gain a heart and passion for their peers who are in darkness.
Pray they respond with acts of love and Gospel conversation.
Pray for peace, protection, and God-inspired actions to address behavioral unrest in all schools.
Pray for students and families to have the peace of God in their homes during Christmas break, and be drawn to Christ-centered worship gatherings and community.
Family
Pray for God to heal relationships in local families, and for entire families to turn and follow the Lord.
Pray for the 200+ teen parents in our community to find and access to the support that they need.
Pray for the “Marriage Team” ministry to gain more coaches & for a strong local network of marriage support.
Pray for God’s blessing on all parenting classes, and for parents to be equipped to love & lead their children.
Government
Pray for the Lord’s blessing, wisdom and grace to be upon all of our government leaders.
Pray for a positive and constructive “community narrative:” reconciliation, respectful public discourse, discussions and efforts for the best community outcomes.
Pray for all new planning for land use, parks, transportation, and economic development to proceed with a habit of cooperation among private & public groups.
Pray for government agencies to work together with greater synergy and effectiveness: The county, cities, utility companies, schools, first responders, etc.
Business
Pray for new businesses to start, and established businesses to move to our community in order to create more family-wage jobs.
Pray for a greater partnership between business and education sectors to train more people in trade skills.
Pray for business leaders to train and mentor younger leaders to build virtue, skill and humility.
Pray for encouraging and wise relationships that build trust among our business, government & faith sectors.
Arts
Pray for God’s power & truth to reveal Jesus through all musical and artistic Christmas expressions.
Pray for deliverance & healing from drug addiction for musicians, actors, writers & visual artists.
Pray for the Lord’s vision and clear direction for the leaders of the Pacific Rim Art Guild.
Pray for artists, musicians and performers to be drawn to Jesus and the Gospel, so that they can find the peace and meaning they are looking for.
Health Care
Pray for “end of life care” to be more holistic to maximize the quality of life.
Pray health care providers are a voice for the sanctity of life.
Pray those with unexpected pregnancies to pursue help through Dove Medical and other encouraging providers.
Pray for harmony & good working relationships with hospital administration, employees & unions.
Pray for health care providers to be empowered and effective in treating mental illness and substance abuse.
Pray for God’s hope & love to intervene for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Pray for a decrease in the suicide rate (The Lane County suicide rate has almost doubled this year).
Police and Fire Departments
Pray for the wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for the well-being and emotional health for first responders, their spouses and children.
Pray for wise, experienced and empowered chaplains to be established in all agencies.
Pray for God to lead the process and selection of the next Police Chief for the Eugene Police Department.
Pray for new quality and “charactered” recruits to be hired in all agencies.
Pray for positive and encouraging relationships between first responders and community members.
Media
Pray for local media to promote and equip community members to listen, and understand one another better.
Pray for God to lead the Register Guard in the 2018 “community focus” series of stories.
Pray for truthful, fair and accurate reporting in all areas of local media.
Pray for local stories to break down negative stereotypes and help neighbors love neighbors.
Sports
Pray for the Lord’s blessing on the KidSports organization, athletes, coaches and referees.
Pray for coaches at all levels to be empowered to encourage, teach, inspire and lead with integrity.
Pray for funding and the fruition of the Eugene Civic Alliance’s vision to build a new sports and recreation complex for children on the former Civic Stadium site.
Pray for safety, protection and peace over every public sporting event.
“Creation Contrasts”
Devotional originally posted December 28, 2016
On my long backpacking trip in the Wallowa Wilderness last summer, I was struck by the contrasting extremes of the natural world surrounding me. The terrain was either harsh or beautiful, life-sustainingly useful or life-threatening - and frequently both, side by side. The extremes were not just noticeable, they seemed at times contradictory. Really Lord, mosquitoes in this drop-dead gorgeous lake valley?
Abrasive and unyielding granite rocks next to delicate and colorful wildflowers. Freezing cold ice and snow draining into refreshing, gurgling streams, which of course sustain wildflowers, animals and humans. High and steep mountain barriers that make passage extremely hard, dotted with delicate fir trees to enrich our oxygen, provide shade and campfire fuel.
Then the absolute delicious feeling of living life in its euphoric fullness, walking in lock-step with a realization of possible physical peril. Would my next step be misplaced, casting me down a rocky cliff? Would my stomach violently reject all the lightweight but inhumane freeze-dried food I was consuming? Would I encounter a bear at the worst time by surprising her with cubs nearby?
Yes, the wilderness was extreme, but also for me, a photo-collage metaphor of everyday life back in Comfortville. There are plenty of emotional contrasts in our 9 to 5 as well. We say we take the good with the bad, but do we handle both well? We crave security, love and comfort, but we also get insecurity, heartache, and anxiety.
Success and failure, to borrow that word pair, are complete opposites, right? But are they really? Does failure amount to a terrible and permanent ending? And does success equal happiness and contentment, as some sort of moral achievement? Or are there hidden components of each for us to get to know, aspects more useful or dangerous than we might assume?
Success can satisfy and reward us for our efforts, but it can also produce arrogance and buffer us from Godly compassion. Failure can plunge us deep into self-absorbed despair, or it can make us rich, deep-pool people who find a way to “win” in a more subtle and rewarding way. Am I suggesting failure is the better result? Not necessarily, but perhaps with both contrasts, it's important to experience each in its mature fullness, and that we treat both with much care.
"Eternal Thanksgiving"
Devotional originally posted August 11, 2016
This human being (or is that “being human”) gig is not an easy one. We live in a crazy, complicated and contentious culture where terrorism, mass shootings and random violence are becoming so commonplace that the shock of these events threatens to give way to resignation. This year we have the added craziness of a political system gone haywire to make sense of. Too often I still find myself frustrated by people, events or circumstances that plague this fallen world. It would be easy to allow these feelings to take me down the all too familiar roads of anger and resentment or worry and depression.
Sometimes I wonder where God is amidst all of this turmoil? I must admit that there have been times when it feels as if God has abandoned us and left us here to get through this world on our own… but then I realize that God is right where God has always been: Within. Within me, within you, within the sunset and the rainbow, whether we recognize it or not we are interconnected by His internal, eternal presence. God will always live within our hearts and souls and no terrorist or politician can change that.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Some years ago, I entered a treatment program to overcome an addictive behavior. One of the most important parts of my rehab was to write a page or two in a journal at the end of each day. The idea was to reflect on what went well and what did not go so well and to learn from the experience. I always ended my journal entries by listing three things for which I am grateful. The gratitude entries didn’t have to be anything major because remembering to be grateful for the little things can help keep us grounded. I remember one night being grateful for rose petals, bottle-caps, and opposable thumbs.
One of my best defenses still, against the world, is to keep adding to that gratitude list. The simple act of writing down those people, events, and circumstances that are blessings, helps me better appreciate the experience of the present moment.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present. ― Bill Keane
After all… How can I continue to operate in frustration when I am thinking about how others have contributed good to my life? How can I fail to understand the gift of each day as I experience life’s small pleasures? How can we not feel a sense of abundance when we take a few moments to think about the beauty and wonder that surrounds us? Thank you Lord for the gift of this day, help me learn better how to walk with you in it.
Community Prayer Guide | November 2017
Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps the church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.
One Church - One Day Community Prayer November 2017
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving & His courts with praise; Give thanks to Him & praise His Name. For the Lord is good & His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5
Church
Pray for all of us to offer a greater measure of thankfulness and thankful lives to God.
Pray that you may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Pray for Jesus-followers in our community to love one another and all our neighbors more and more.
Pray for the Lord’s power to be on the preparations for Thanksgiving & Christmas celebrations & outreaches.
Education
Pray for teachers and administrators to connect with students struggling with anxiety, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.
Pray for hope, help, and peace for veterans returning home to college campuses.
Pray for Jesus-following educators to be prayerful, and arise like Daniels in their field. Pray for wisdom and solutions from heaven that surpass worldly wisdom in their classrooms and schools, benefiting all.
Pray for educators to have bold wisdom to provide clear, consistent boundaries and expectations for students.
Pray for School/Church Partnerships to broaden and deepen so church families connect with school families in meaningful ways.
Family
Pray for couples to implement healthy marriage strategies (communication, time management, budgeting).
Pray for the 200+ teen parents in our community to find and access the support that they need.
Pray for the “Marriage Team” Ministry to gain more coaches & for a strong local network of marriage support.
Pray for God’s blessing on all parenting classes, and for parents to be equipped to love & lead their children.
Pray for marriages to be strengthened and for marriage to be honored in our community.
Government
Pray for light, safety and security in all of our public parks.
Pray for the Lord’s blessing, wisdom and grace to be upon all of our government leaders.
Pray for all new planning for land use, parks, transportation, and economic development to proceed with a habit of cooperation among private & public groups.
Pray for government agencies to work together with greater synergy and effectiveness: The county, cities, utility companies, schools, first responders, etc.
Business
Pray for new businesses to start, and established businesses to move to our community in order to create more family-wage jobs.
Pray for a greater partnership between business and education sectors to train more people in trade skills.
Pray for encouraging and wise relationships that build trust among our business, government & faith sectors.
Pray for Christ-honoring business leaders to receive fresh wisdom for their businesses, and insight to make the most of this season of economic growth.
Arts
Pray for art instructors to have God’s light, and to inspire & encourage kids to develop their gifts.
Pray for deliverance & healing from drug addiction for musicians, actors, writers & visual artists.
Pray for God’s power & truth to reveal Jesus to the many musicians who perform at Mac’s Nightclub.
Pray for artists, musicians and performers to be drawn to Jesus and the Gospel, so that they can find the peace and meaning they are looking for.
Pray for local churches to engage God’s creativity through the arts in worship and outreaches.
Health Care
Pray for all patients to receive the resources and access to the health care they need.
Pray for harmony, & good working relationships with hospital administration, employees & unions.
Pray for health care providers to be empowered and effective in treating mental illness.
Pray for deliverance and healing for all who are struggling with substance abuse.
Pray for God’s hope & love to intervene for those struggling with suicidal thoughts. Pray for a decrease in the suicide rate (The Lane County suicide rate has almost doubled this year).
Police and Fire Departments
Pray for the well-being and emotional health for first responders and their families.
Pray for harmony and clear communication between unions and first responder leadership.
Pray for the wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for God to lead the process and selection of the next Police Chief for the Eugene Police Department.
Pray for the 911 team & all dispatchers to be encouraged, supported and integrated harmoniously in their agencies.
Media
Pray for the media coverage of CityFest to be positive, inviting, and for it to draw people to participate.
Pray for media outlets’ community service projects to be effective and beneficial.
Pray for truthful, fair and accurate reporting in all areas of local media.
Pray for local stories to break down negative stereotypes and help neighbors love neighbors.
Sports
Pray for safety, protection and peace over every public sporting event.
Pray for coaches at all levels to be empowered to encourage, teach, inspire and lead with integrity.
Pray for the Lord’s favor and expansion of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in our community.
Pray for funding and the fruition of the Eugene Civic Alliance’s vision to build a new sports and recreation complex for children on the former Civic Stadium site.